Cool temps slow crop development

June 12, 2009

SIOUX FALLS (AP) - Widespread showers provided a boost for South Dakota crops in the past week, but many fields need sunshine and warmer temperatures to stimulate development. The weekly crop report from the Agricultural Statistics Service said crop growth has slowed because of cool temperatures that were 3 to 14 degrees below average last week. Sioux Falls set records on consecutive days for the lowest daytime high, and Rapid City had a record low temperature of 35. Britton dropped to 31 degrees. The service said 40 percent of the state is short of topsoil moisture, down from 48 percent a week earlier. ND planting FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The latest state crop report says rain and snow over the weekend kept North Dakota farmers from wrapping up their planting. The Agriculture Department says rain fell across most of the state Saturday, with a rain-snow mix in southwestern North Dakota. Cooler temperatures also slowed crop development. The report says the state's spring wheat is 94 percent seeded and durum is 96 percent seeded. Corn, barley and oats are more than 90 percent seeded. The Agriculture Department says soybeans are 83 percent planted compared with a 93 percent average. Minnesota ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Rain fell across much of the state late last week, but topsoil moisture held about steady for Minnesota farmers following a very dry May. That's from the weekly crop-weather report from the Minnesota field office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture released Monday. Statewide, 52 percent of topsoil was rated adequate to surplus for moisture compared with 50 percent one week ago. However, 20 percent was rated very short. Corn was 96 percent emerged with an average height of 6 inches, matching the five-year average on both counts.Soybeans were 97 percent planted and 74 percent emerged with an average height of 2 inches - all about the same as the historical average. Both crops were rated in generally good to excellent condition. South Dakota Slight rain was seen around the state this past week, and the cold temperatures were slowing growth of planted crops. There were 5 days suitable for field work in the past week. Major farm activities included cutting alfalfa and other hay, spraying of weeds, and some planting continued as well. This report was based on information from county extension educators, Farm Service Agency county directors, and other reporters across the state. Weather: A relatively quiet week ended with most locations in the state receiving more than 0.5 inch of precipitation and significantly cooler temperatures, according to the State Climate Office of South Dakota. East and north central SD received around half inch of rainfall or less. The northwest part of the state received more than 1 inch with areas around Buffalo receiving as much as 1.24 inches whereas locations in central SD, such as Pierre and Chamberlain, received between 0.8 inch and 0.9 inch of precipitation. Areas around Winner reported around 1.1 inches of the much needed rain. With over an inch of rainfall in Custer, reports of hail were received from the county. Certain east central locations, such as Brookings, reported heavy precipitation late Sunday night (7th June) and into early hours Monday. While precipitation this week has helped, the entire state continues to remains below average since April 1st. The first week of June ended with abnormally cold temperatures. Records for the coldest day-time high were broken on the 6th at many locations. High temperatures on 6th and 7th in Sioux Falls were coldest on record for those respective days. Low temperature on the 4th in Rapid City was the coldest on record for the day. The entire state was between 3¡ and 14¡F below average for the week. This has been the result of a strong Canadian high pressure over southern Canada bringing cold, dry air into SD. As a result, GDD accumulation in the entire state dropped below average. Soil condition: The colder than average temperatures this week resulted in lower soil temperatures. Average soil temperature for the week dropped 7¡F from 66¡ to 59¡F in Cottonwood. Soil temperatures remained in 50's and 60's this week. Topsoil moisture this week is at 60 percent in the adequate to surplus categories, an increase of 8 percentage points from last week. Subsoil moisture dropped slightly this week to 69 percent in the adequate to surplus categories, falling 4 percentage points. Field crops report: Planting continues, as warmer temperatures are needed for growth and development of crops. Soybeans are at 88 percent planted, up from last week by 15 percentage points. Emerged soybeans are at 52 percent for the week, 18 percentage points up from last week. Eighty three percent of corn has emerged, up 27 percentage points from last week's emerged. Average corn height for the week was at 4 inches, up an inch from last week. Cultivating and spraying of corn is underway with 42 percent cultivated/sprayed once. Livestock, pasture, and range report: Warmer weather would be welcomed in the state for livestock and pasture conditions to remain favorable. Sheep conditions were at 79 percent in the good to excellent categories, a decrease from last week by 3 points. Cattle conditions dropped three points this past week and currently stand at 75 percent in good to excellent condition. Range and pasture conditions are at 67 percent in the good to excellent categories, dropping 3 percentage points for the week. North Dakota General: Below normal precipitation across most of the state allowed planting to continue, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. However, rain fell across most of the state on Saturday with a rain and snow mix in the southwest. The precipitation was beneficial to crops already planted, but further delayed a late planting season. Reporters noted that planting in many areas had just about concluded. Post emergence spraying for control of broadleaf weeds was 13 percent complete, and spraying for wild oats was 17 percent complete. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 7 percent short, 74 adequate and 19 surplus. The five-year (2004-2008) average topsoil moisture rating was 4 percent very short, 12 short, 70 adequate and 14 surplus. Statewide, on average, there were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Crops: Cool weather this past week slowed crop development. Spring wheat was 94 percent seeded, 75 percent emerged and 2 percent jointed compared with the average of 99 percent seeded, 96 emerged and 30 jointed. Durum wheat was 96 percent seeded, 74 percent emerged and none jointed compared with the average of 93 percent seeded, 84 emerged and 12 jointed. Barley was 94 percent seeded, 70 percent emerged and 1 percent jointed. Oats were 98 percent seeded, 82 percent emerged and 4 percent jointed. Spring wheat was rated 78 percent good to excellent compared with 60 percent last year and 76 percent average. Dry conditions for most of the week allowed for planting to continue across the state, but the weekend rains prevented closure. Corn, dry edible peas, flaxseed, soybeans and sugarbeets each progressed over 25 percentage points in emergence, but all six crops were behind both the previous year and the average percent emerged. Corn was 96 percent planted and 65 percent emerged compared with the average of 99 percent planted and 92 emerged. Soybeans were 83 percent planted and 37 percent emerged compared with the average of 93 percent planted and 69 emerged. Sugarbeets were 97 percent planted, and 60 percent emerged. The sunflower crop was 69 percent planted and 16 percent emerged. Corn was rated 74 percent good to excellent compared with 62 percent last year and 74 percent average. Livestock: Hay and pasture lands continued to fill out and benefited from the rainfall late last week. Reporters noted that haying was ready to begin in some areas. Pasture and range conditions were rated 2 percent very poor, 7 poor, 34 fair, 52 good and 5 excellent compared with the average of 7 percent very poor, 17 poor, 29 fair, 39 good and 8 excellent. Hay conditions were rated 1 percent very poor, 8 poor, 37 fair, 49 good and 5 excellent. Stockwater supplies were rated 2 percent short, 86 adequate and 12 surplus. Weather: Temperatures were below normal across the state this past week with above normal precipitation in the southwest and below normal precipitation elsewhere. Highs on Monday were in the mid-60s to mid-70s with scattered showers in the southwest. Tuesday was dry with highs in the upper 50s to 60s. Dry conditions continued on Wednesday with highs in the upper 50s to mid-70s. Highs on Thursday were in the 70s to low 80s with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the east. There were scattered showers in the southwest on Friday with highs in the mid-50s to mid-60s. Rain fell across the western, central and southern areas of the state on Saturday with a rain and snow mix in the southwest. Highs were in the mid-30s to mid- 50s. Highs on Sunday were in the mid-40s to mid-60s with rain falling across the western, central, and southern areas. Outlook: Temperatures will be below normal this upcoming week with below normal precipitation. The chance of showers and thunderstorms will continue in the east on Friday with highs in the mid-60s to low 70s. Saturday and Sunday will be dry with highs in the 70s. Minnesota Topsoil moisture supplies held steady as late week rains fell across much of the state, according to the NASS Minnesota Field Office. Weekend rains were well received across the dry areas of southern and central Minnesota where locally one half to over one inch of rain fell. However, topsoil moisture supplies remain relatively unchanged as precipitation in the area remains below normal following a very dry month of May. Statewide, 52 percent of topsoil was rated adequate to surplus for moisture compared with 50 percent one week ago. Cool weather was noted as affecting crop emergence and growth throughout the state. Some northern locations reported frost. There were 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. Corn was 96 percent emerged with an average height of 6 inches. Soybeans advanced to 97 percent planted and 74 percent emerged with an average height of 2 inches. Both crops were rated in generally good to excellent condition. Eighty-one percent of spring wheat and 80 percent of barley was emerged with 11 and 9 percent jointing respectively. Oats was 93 percent emerged with 32 percent jointing. Crop condition for all three small grains were primarily rated fair to good. Fifty-four percent of first cutting alfalfa was complete, well ahead of last year and average. Producers were able to put up hay in relatively good condition with mostly dry weather prior to the weekend rain. Alfalfa condition was rated 4 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 42 percent good and 7 percent excellent. Pasture and range condition was rated 4 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Again, cool weather was cited as affecting growth.